Plants in offices and work spaces increase happiness and productivity. Plants are an essential part of a work space setup, especially for those working at home. Adding plants to your work space has a number of benefits including reduced stress and improved productivity, improved air quality and reduced noise levels. Additionally, while working from home you should ensure you stop for breaks and get some fresh air.
The American Society for Horticultural Science conducted a test to see if plants could reduce stress levels in an office environment. When each participant was feeling ‘fatigued’ they were asked to take their pulse and then sit looking at a plant for three minutes, recording their pulse again. Over the course of four weeks, participants recorded their pulse (a good indicator of your body’s stress response) before and after looking at the plants and filled out surveys that gauged their psychological state and anxiety levels. About 27% of participants experienced a significant decrease in their pulse rate by the end of the plant-tending period, and most participants’ anxiety scores decreased too.
The overall outcome of the study showed that plants promote well-being and performance. Proponents of colour psychology argue that the colour green has a relaxing and calming effect, so decorating your work space in this shade could potentially have a similar effect to introducing plants to the work space.
It goes without saying that good health and attitude lead to good productivity. Research suggests that plants also increase alertness and attentiveness, which is important for concentration levels when working from home. A Texas A&M study showed plants can improve creativity, another important factor in productivity. The study also showed that adding plants to an office space can increase workers’ productivity by 15%.
A study by NASA found that in addition to absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, certain common indoor plants may also provide a natural way of removing volatile organic pollutants (benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene were tested). The study further suggested that efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet (9.3 m2) of space. Hence having the right indoor plants in your workspace could help clean the air inside your home.
If you're working from home you will need a quiet place away from the kids, to get some work done. An added bonus of having plants within and surrounding your workspace is that large plants are known to reduce noise levels. Plants absorb sound through their stems and leaves. The larger the surface area of the leaf the better it will be at absorbing sound. Additionally, when sound waves hit a flexible material (such as plant leaves), the material will vibrate and the waves will be deflected in different directions, therefore, reducing sound.
While working from home ensure you take a few breaks; it is recommended to try the Pomodoro technique - work on a task for 25 minutes then have a 5-minute break. A great place to have one of your breaks is outside. Have your lunch in the garden or on some grass nearby your home. A study by the University of Exeter Medical School stated that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being. Spending time out in nature over the week will help improve your health while working from home.
Humans have an innate desire to be connected with nature, called Biophilia. This is why it is so important we have some form of nature incorporated into our workspace. In these stressful times, plants are a great item to put in your workspace, as they help reduce stress.
